ACTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF GERONTOLOGY ENTHUSIASTS... ONE SEMESTER AT A TIME

Abstract At the Engagement Center for Creative Aging at Virginia Tech, we are activating the next generation of gerontology enthusiasts while breaking down stigmas associated with aging and cognitive change. Each semester, we have an opportunity to engage with the undergraduate and graduate student population here on campus through field work, volunteerism and student employment. Here, students engage with adults in our community through a wide range of programs to support aging from community clubs, caregiver wellness and our adult day services program. This paper focuses on Reframing Aging with students who engage in field work at our adult day services program through the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech through strategic application of active learning pedagogical techniques including lecture, class discussion, experiential activities and application exercises. In addition to classroom components, students participate in service delivery at our center. At the beginning of each semester, students are asked (using an anonymous online polling tool), “What words do you associate with older adults” and “… older adults with dementia.” The most common words that have appeared, semester after semester, are: stubborn, inflexible, angry, sad, decline, struggling, forgetful and confused. At the end of the semester, sixteen-weeks later, students are asked the same questions. The most common words associated with older adults and those experiencing dementia at the end of the semester are: interesting, unique, wise, lovely, welcoming, insightful, experienced, helpful, normal, honest and human. In one semester, we are helping to Reframe Aging with this approach.

resident independence, social interaction, mealtime experience, and food intake.In LTC settings, registered dietitians (RDs) play a crucial role in providing nutritional care for residents with dementia.Our study explored RDs' perspectives on how they provide home-like mealtime environments for LTC residents with dementia.RDs who work with residents with dementia in the U.S. (n = 18) participated in one of five focus groups.Focus groups were led by a trained moderator using a semi-structured interview guide, transcribed verbatim, and audited by the research team for accuracy.Transcripts underwent descriptive content analyses using NVivo© software.Data analyses revealed a significant barrier, the Coronavirus Diseases of 2019 , in providing home-like environments for LTC residents with dementia.RDs reported the negative impact of COVID-19related isolation among LTC residents with dementia.To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among vulnerable residents, strict infection control policies were implemented.Therefore, many LTC facilities suspended communal dining, resulting in increased isolation and a sense of social disconnection, exacerbating the progression of dementia in many residents.Thus, COVID-19 presented a significant barrier for RDs to provide a mealtime environment that is homelike for LTC residents.To provide optimal nutrition care for LTC residents with dementia, having a middle road between the COVID-19 policies and traditional practices has been suggested.

"WE DON'T AGE ALONE; WE AGE AS A COMMUNITY": BARRIERS AND ENABLERS OF AGING WELL IN BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN OLDER ADULTS
Mushira Khan 1 , John Holton 2 , and Ajla Basic 1 , 1. Mather, Evanston, Illinois, United States, 2. University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States Eurocentric understandings of successful aging privilege optimal physical and cognitive health, absence of disease and disability, and active social engagement in later life.This marginalizes the experiences of diverse older adults who may live with chronic conditions but maintain a good quality of life, supported by factors such as spirituality, resilience, and close familial ties.Further, this approach is myopic because it fails to capture social determinants of health (SDOH) that influence the aging process over time.The Perceptions of Aging Well in Diverse Older Adults study is a 5-year series that seeks to identify: 1) micro-, meso-and macro-level factors that shape aging well in racial/ethnic minority older adults, and 2) strategies to support aging well in racial/ethnic minority older adults.This presentation highlights preliminary findings from a sub-study with Black/African American participants.In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 community-dwelling Black/African American adults age 50+ (14 females, 9 males; mean age = 71.2years).Thematic analysis of the interview data showed that neighborhood safety, food insecurity, pharmacy deserts, adverse childhood experiences, structural racism, and everyday micro-aggressions shaped perceptions of aging well in powerful ways.Strong kinship bonds and a desire to leave a legacy of resilience and empowerment for younger generations motivated participants to engage in prosocial activities such as volunteering in local church communities.These findings suggest that along with addressing key SDOH, fostering generativity through teaching and mentoring, creative arts, and taking on community leadership roles may enhance subjective well-being in Black/African American older adults.

ACCULTURATION, ALCOHOL USE, AND SLEEP AMONG LATINX ADULTS AT RISK FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS
Daniel Jimenez, Shanna Burke, Timothy Hayes, Adrienne Grudzien, Accacia Russell, Gianinna Munoz Soto, Eriana Peralta, and Eleni Padden, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States Background: Excessive alcohol use can negatively impact sleep.In the U.S., Latinx people are most likely to engage in problematic drinking when compared to other racial/ ethnic groups.Acculturation in U.S. society has been suggested as a contributing factor to problematic drinking.Excessive alcohol use and poor sleep are known risk factors for developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).Little is known about the interaction between acculturation and alcohol use on sleep outcomes in Latinx adults, especially among those at risk of ADRD.The current study explored whether acculturation to the U.S. moderated the relationship between alcohol use and sleep.Methods: A secondary analysis of a community-based sample of 113 Latinx adults, ages 40-60, was conducted.Participants had a parent diagnosed with ADRD.Measures included surveys gauging alcohol use (WHO ASSIST V.30), acculturation (Bicultural Involvement Questionnaire), subjective sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and objective sleep measures using actigraphy (ActiGraph).A multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate whether acculturation moderated the relationship between alcohol use and sleep outcomes Results: The sample was predominantly female (92%), people born outside the US (74%), with approximately 83% of participants reported lifetime alcohol use.Americanism acculturation (b= 0.30, SE= 0.21, p=0.007) and biculturalism (-b= 0.30, SE= 0.13, p=0.003) significantly moderated the relationship between alcohol use and sleep duration.Implications: Expanded, targeted research and intervention focused on sociocultural factors impacting alcohol use for Latinx people at risk of ADRD must be further explored to identify and intervene in sleep disparities occurring among this population.

ACTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF GERONTOLOGY ENTHUSIASTS... ONE SEMESTER AT A TIME
Joanna Culligan, and Ila Schepisi, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States At the Engagement Center for Creative Aging at Virginia Tech, we are activating the next generation of gerontology enthusiasts while breaking down stigmas associated with aging and cognitive change.Each semester, we have an opportunity to engage with the undergraduate and graduate student population here on campus through field work, volunteerism and student employment.Here, students engage with adults in our community through a wide range of programs to support aging from community clubs, caregiver wellness and our adult day services program.This paper focuses on Reframing Aging with students who engage in field work at our adult day services program through the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech through strategic application of active learning pedagogical techniques including lecture, class discussion, experiential activities and application exercises.In addition to classroom components, students participate in service delivery at our center.At the beginning of each semester, students are asked (using an anonymous online polling tool), "What words do you associate with older adults" and "… older adults with dementia."The most common words that have appeared, semester after semester, are: stubborn, inflexible, angry, sad, decline, struggling, forgetful and confused.At the end of the semester, sixteen-weeks later, students are asked the same questions.The most common words associated with older adults and those experiencing dementia at the end of the semester are: interesting, unique, wise, lovely, welcoming, insightful, experienced, helpful, normal, honest and human.In one semester, we are helping to Reframe Aging with this approach.

ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO A FULL RANGE OF EVIDENCE-BASED OBESITY CARE FOR OLDER ADULTS: A GSA ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
John Batsis 1 , Jason Lofton 2 , Anna Pendrey 3 , Kathryn Porter Starr 4 , Jennifer Pettis 5 , and Karen Tracy 5 , 1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,Chapel Hill,North Carolina,United States,2. Lofton Family Clinic,De Queen,Arkansas,United States,3. Indiana University,Indianapolis,Indiana,United States,4. Duke University School of Medicine,Durham,North Carolina,United States,5. The Gerontological Society of America,Washington,District of Columbia,United States Obesity is identified as a chronic disease by the American Medical Association and several professional societies such as the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, The Obesity Society, and the American Gastroenterological Association.These organizations have all established clinical guidelines on caring for individuals with obesity and overweight.However, there is a critical lack of appropriate and individualized treatment strategies for older adults with obesity.To address this issue, in June 2023 The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) convened 15 multidisciplinary leaders in a roundtable discussion on Addressing Barriers to Accessing a Full Range of Evidence-Based Obesity Care Options by Older Adults.Roundtable participants identified how to overcome obesity/overweight perceptions, communicate appropriately with older adults about their body size, address cultural differences in obesity care, provide care in conjunction with common comorbidities that are faced by older adults, collaborate with an interprofessional team to care for older adults with obesity, overcome barriers to implementation of lifestyle changes including diet and exercise, incorporate medical and surgical interventions, and align needs of older adults with community resources.This poster will illustrate key findings from this roundtable discussion.

ADOPTING A STRENGTH-BASED, PERSON-CENTERED RISK ASSESSMENT CLINICAL DECISION SUPPORT TOOL: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
Heather MacLeod 1 , Véronique Provencher 2 , Dorothy Kessler 3 , Mary Egan 4 , Dominique Giroux 5 , Marie-Jeanne Kergoat 6 , Lewis Krystina 4 , and Veillette Nathalie 6 , 1. Perley Health, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 2. Université de Sherbrooke,Sherbrooke,Quebec,Canada,3. Queen's University,Kingston,Ontario,Canada,4. University of Ottawa,Ottawa,Ontario,Canada,5. Université Laval,Québec,Quebec,Canada,6. Université de Montréal,Montréal,Quebec,Canada Most older adults want to age in place even if changes in their health results in home safety concerns.A consistent approach to assessing both the physical and psychological risks associated with the decision to remain at home is lacking.The Living with Risk: Decision Support Approach (LwR:DSA) is a recently validated innovative clinical tool that supports a balanced, systematic and person-centered assessment of risks, by analyzing their negative and positive consequences.The aim of this mixed-method study was to understand the barriers and facilitators to using the LwR:DSA during usual care to determine how best to support widespread adoption.Twenty-two hospital-and community-based clinicians used the LwR:DSA for eight weeks.Individual interviews were performed to document the factors that hindered and helped the use of the LwR:DSA in their clinical setting.The interviews were analyzed using Qualitative Description and the positive impact of using the LwR:DSA emerged as one of the facilitator themes.The participants described that using the LwR:DSA in practice improved their clinical decision making, communication and their ability to provide person-centered care.More specifically, the LwR:DSA 1) helped the clinicians understand the risk level and the context, causes, and consequences of the safety concern; 2) guided them to co-create with the older adult, agreeable recommendations to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes; 3) decreased clinician discomfort and 4) supported authentic conversations with the older adult.Understanding the benefits of using the LwR:DSA provides key information for clinicians by challenging the status quo of their current practice.Given the aging of the U.S. population, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) is projected to reach 13 million by 2050.There is an urgent need for research efforts to advance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for ADRD.Furthermore, caregivers of individuals with ADRD often face distinct challenges and experience significant caregiving burden that has an impact on their well-being.To address unmet needs of individuals with ADRD and their caregivers, PCORI has invested nearly $85 million in patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) focused on ADRD and has initiated John Audley, Tabassum Majid, Yewande Akinbami, Neeraj Arora, Marissa Coyle, Joanna Philips, Kate Moraras, and Steve Clauser, Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, United States